Scottish support for Independence/Devolution 1978-95

Q Which of these options would you most like to see for running Scotland as a whole?

MORI conducted regular polls on Scottish attitudes to independence or devolution between 1978 and 1992. For each survey, samples consisted of c. 900-1,000 Scottish adults aged 18+ unless otherwise indicated. Interviews were conducted face-to-face, and data were weighted to match the profile of adults in Scotland.

1978-88 | 1988-9 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1995

Q For running Scotland as a whole, would you like to see...?

1978-1988 A completely independent Scottish Assembly separate from England A Scottish Assembly as part of Britain but with substantial powers No change from the present system Don't know
  % % % %
5 April 1978* 20 52 25 4
March 1979 14 42 35 9
February 1981 25 46 30 0
May 1981 25 50 25 0
September 1981 23 47 31 0
November 1981 22 47 26 5
February 1982 23 53 19 5
April 1982 22 45 27 6
November 1982 22 47 26 5
March 1983 23 48 26 2
4 June 1983 23 51 22 4
29 February -1 March 1984 25 45 27 3
24-25 February 1986 33 47 14 6
6-7 March 1987 32 50 15 3
May 1987 29 41 25 5
April 1988 35 42 20 3

*In 1978, the first option was worded as "A completely independent Scottish Parliament separate from England", but the second referred to "A Scottish Assembly..." as in the subsequent polls

Q Which of these options would you most like to see for running Scotland as a whole?

1988-9 Independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales and the European Community Independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales but part of the European Community Scotland remaining part of the UK but with its own devolved assembly with some taxation and spending powers No change from the present system Don't know
  % % % % %
1-3 December 1988 10 24 46 16 4
25-28 February 1989 11 24 42 20 3
1-2 June 1989 12 22 49 15 2
11-13 September 1989 9 27 44 18 2
1990 Independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales and the European Community Independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales but part of the European Community Scotland remaining part of the UK but with its own devolved assembly with some taxation and spending powers No change from the present system Don't know
  % % % % %
22-28 February 1990 10 24 44 19 3
15-20 May 1990 8 29 45 16 2
14-18 June 1990 10 28 43 17 2
19-22 July 1990 10 27 44 16 3
16-20 August 1990 7 31 44 16 2
19-23 September 1990 9 28 44 17 2
18-22 October 1990 9 30 44 15 2
15-18 November 1990 9 28 45 17 1
5-10 December 1990 7 25 49 17 2
1991 Independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales and the European Community Independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales but part of the European Community Scotland remaining part of the UK but with its own devolved assembly with some taxation and spending powers No change from the present system Don't know
  % % % % %
17-20 January 1991 7 28 42 21 2
21-24 February 1991 10 23 45 20 2
7-25 March 1991* 9 23 51 16 1
21-24 March 1991 8 27 42 21 2
18-20 April 1991 9 28 42 19 2
23-27 May 1991 7 26 45 19 3
20-24 June 1991 8 26 47 17 2
18-22 July 1991 8 28 43 18 3
22-26 August 1991 9 26 47 17 1
19-23 September 1991 9 26 45 17 3
17-21 October 1991 9 28 46 15 2
21-25 November 1991 8 26 47 16 3
12-16 December 1991 9 31 40 17 3

*Q on 7-25 March "Now thinking about the running of Scotland, which of these options would you most like to see?", Base:612 Scottish adults

1992 Independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales and the European Community Independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales but part of the European Community Scotland remaining part of the UK but with its own devolved assembly with some taxation and spending powers No change from the present system Don't know
  % % % % %
16-20 January 1992 9 31 42 15 3
20-24 February 1992 7 29 37 23
12 March 1992 8 26 42 20
19 March 1992 8 26 42 23
26 March 1992 7 27 44 20
2 April 1992 6 22 45 23
23-27 April 1992 5 22 47 25 1
21-25 May 1992 5 23 48 21 3
18-22 June 1992 5 29 40 23 3
23-27 July 1992 7 28 41 21 3

Q Now thinking about the running of Scotland, which of these options would you most like to see?

1995 An independent Scotland which is separate from both England and Wales and the European Union An independent Scotland which is separate from England and Wales but part of the European Union Scotland remaining part of the UK but with its own devolved assembly with some taxation and spending powers No change from the present system Don't know
  % % % % %
21 April - 8 May 1995* 9 20 52 17 2

*Base in 1995: 375 Scottish adults aged 18+

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